Serbia to mark World Wetlands Day

Belgrade, Jan 30, 2004 - The Serbian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection will pick up its project to make a list of all wetlands in the country to mark the World Wetlands Day on Feb 2.

The project, financed by the Ministry, aims to provide a list of all wetlands and water ecosystems in Serbia to help the country protect them and apply criteria for their sustainable use.

World Wetlands Day was established in 1971 through the Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar. There are presently 138 contracting parties to the Convention, with 1,328 wetland sites of international importance.

The former Yugoslavia joined the Convention in 1977. Serbia's Obedska Bara, Ludasko Lake and Stari Begej - Carska Bara, as well as Skadarsko Lake in Montenegro are included in the Ramsar directory of wetlands of international importance.